Croatia’s Constitutional Court Rules Against Eligibility of President in Upcoming Elections: Implications for European Parliament

In Croatia, the Constitutional Court has ruled that the President of the Republic did not resign from his position in accordance with a warning issued on March 18, 2024. As a result, he is not eligible to lead the future government or become prime minister, according to the Associated Press. The recent elections in Croatia were dominated by two politicians, with implications for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June. One of the candidates, Milanović, was critical of the EU’s policy on the war in Ukraine and raised concerns about potential pro-Russian influences in the country similar to Hungary and Slovakia.

Despite winning 42 seats in the election, Milanović’s Social Democratic Party (SDP) is unlikely to lead the government based on the election results. The court’s decision further solidifies this by preventing Milanović from becoming a mandate holder even with support from smaller parties. The court had previously warned Milanović and the SDP to adhere to the constitution and advised the president to resign if he intended to participate in the elections.

The president of the Constitutional Court emphasized that Milanović was given ample time to resign, closing the door on his eligibility as a mandate holder. Opposition parties criticized the court’s decision, claiming it favored